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Pontiac Vibe

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    vonnyvoncevonnyvonce Member Posts: 129
    Anyone find an oil filter for 130 hp engine somewhere other than the dealer. Is the 2002 Corolla filter the same?

    Also 1 week old vibe is terrific except notice a squeak which seems to be coming from where the dash shrouds the gauge tunnels. Noise stops if I apply pressure down on dash. Otherwise fine, gas mileage 28,32 mixed but mostly city. Very happy with that. Tunes continue to impress my taste.
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    scottdudescottdude Member Posts: 177
    I thought someone said you could search Vibe inventory on the GM Buy Power site. I just tried and Vibe wasn't even listed as a choice. Has anyone else had luck with this?
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    npaladin2000npaladin2000 Member Posts: 593
    Did you look under the 2003 model year? The Vibe is a 2003 car, not a 2002 car...it's not listed under the 2002s.
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    vinneyvinney Member Posts: 43
    I have a new vibe also 2 weeks old. Mine started squeaking like a bird sound and I sprayed a little silicone spray between the transparent lens and the gauge tunnels and wiped off the runoff with a clean rag. It's been a week and still no squeaks from dash. The rear of car is another story. There was a plastic sounding rattle coming from the rear and I think it was a window strut from the rear hatch. Is yours auto trans and can you here a clunk sometimes when changing gears from drive to reverse and vise versa? I think this is normal because I drove a couple of other vibes which had the same symptom. Hondas automatics have this trait too. Other than those few issues the car is awesome to drive.
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    markregelmarkregel Member Posts: 32
    I went to the dealer ready to purchase this car (Vibe), but was somewhat disapointed. Not that it's a bad car, just expected a lot more. I currently own a Ford Focus and am also considering a P.T. Cruiser, which I test drove before looking at the Vibe. Don't like to admit it, but when I found out the Vibe is really a "Toyota", I was sold (you know, Toyota reputation), but after a careful inspection and test drive, not so sure. The dash and interrior are a big dissapointment! The Cruiser's interrior is not only more tastefully done, but is more durable and seems of higher quality (in my opinion). The Cruiser has a nifty shelf in the cargo area, whereas the Vibe has a fabric sliding cover that reminds me of hatchbacks of old (a.k.a. Ford Escort). The dash and switchgear on the Vibe is no prize either, in fact my Focus has smoother and nicer feeling controls. Driving? Again the Vibe fell short of expectations. The P.T. Cruiser seems to me to have the more refined ride, and handling and steering response (in the vibe) is not as good as my Ford Focus. I still may end up getting a Vibe for it's better gas milage and "Toyota reputation", but in all honesty, I fail to see what is so darn good about "Toyota". Read the consumer magazines and you would expect Toyota to be in a class by itself. After comparing Vibe to Cruiser, what is all the fuss about?
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    shadowsurfershadowsurfer Member Posts: 22
    mark,

    Thanks for the honest opinion. Just curious, which Vibe did you test drive, is it the 130 Base model or the 180 GT ?
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    kingwisekingwise Member Posts: 1
    I am a first time buyer. I checked a vibe GT with nav system was about 23K from pontiac's site. Do you guys know is it a true price for a vibe GT?
    Also, the site said I can't option a moonroof if I want a nav sys. Actually is it possible to have both options together?
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    vonnyvoncevonnyvonce Member Posts: 129
    Markregal: Owned a vibe for 2 weeks and 1000 miles. I can relate my buying experience. On my first test drive I was NOT impressed very much with Vibe (actually Matrix). Second test drive, the same but couldn't help being attracted to this vehicle. Three or four more test drives and I found each time the Vibe grew on me. I was tired of trying to decide so I ordered one, 8 weeks later it's here and I really like it. Except for the squeaky dash which I will silicone (thanks Vinney) the car is terrific. No complaints at all. Some things just take time to grow on you. If the Vibe's for you, it will hit you. I have never driven a PT but I'm fairly certain the Vibe will be better in the long run.
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    tkapres1tkapres1 Member Posts: 6
    The Delco Oil Filer for the base vibe is PF2257.
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    shadowsurfershadowsurfer Member Posts: 22
    vonnyvonce,

    I presume you own the Base Model for the Vibe ?
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    socal_racefansocal_racefan Member Posts: 17
    I have a Matrix but this fix should work for Vibes also - copied it from my post on another site. matrixvibe.net - check it out if you haven't yet.
    FINALLY - Fixed the squeak!! Not sure if some people's gauge cluster pods were making noise from different places but I finally found where my scratchy sound was coming from. On mine - when you pull the cluster out you will see a piece of the plexiglass which covers the speedo. At the bottom of this piece there is a guide piece that sticks straight out. Find where this piece lines up on the backside of the cluster. You will see that there are two plastic guides on the matching point on the inside of the cluster. Using a razor blade - cut away the plastic guides on the cluster. You will find it a little difficult because the area is curved but if you remove enough of these little guides they won't touch the piece of plexiglass that covers the speedometer. Snap the cluster back in place and no more squeak. Another fix for this is to completely shave off the piece of plexiglass that sticks out, but I would only do that if nothing else works.
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    Wife & I are still considering a new '03 Vibe Base model with the following equipment:

    * Power Package

    * Side Airbags

    * ABS (A must on any car, specially the Vibe)

    * Automatic Transmission.

    * Cruise Control

    That's basically it. We do not want/care about Moonroofs or high powered stereos (The basic stereo sounded fine to us), DVD navigation systems (A waste of money, you can buy a nice home theater system instead)and any other unecessary junk, non-safety related add ons. Configured this way, the car comes out to $19,200 MSRP per GMBuypower's car configurator.

    Price is a bit steep in our opinion. Another problem...it is next to impossible to locate a Base Vibe with side airbags, automatic and ABS, without the "Moon & Toons" package and alloy wheels in the whole entire South Florida area. Once this car closely approaches the $20K barrier it becomes harder to justify.

    I test drove it about a month or so ago. The car is well finished and feels solid, no doubt about it. The rear seat has suprisingly good amounts of legroom, but the cargo area with the seat backs up is not that impressive. Interior materials are OK, they will hold up but with the exception of the instrument cluster, steering wheel and metal trim inserts, they are nothing special. The basic "Pontiac 100" stereo with CD player, EQ and 4 speakers is more than fine for us. Good handling, nice driving position, but rear visibility takes some use to. Base brakes felt OK but dislike the non ABS Disc/Drum arragement...unacceptable when other competitors add Disc/Disc ABS brakes (Such as VW) as std equipment on their cars from the get go. The promise of Toyota reliability and durability is also a major plus. And we already have over $1K in GM credit card points, so there we have yet another incentive to jump into the Vibe.

    Other things that we are not so thrilled about the Vibe:

    * Side curtain type airbags are not offered on the Vibe.

    * As noted by some auto reviewers, the instrument cluster (While it looks very cool and unique) display has a tendency to washout under direct sunlight and also the round chrome rims on the instrument pods tend to create uncomfortable and even dangerous reflections in the windshield. I am not too crazy about the Red on black instrumentation either.

    * We don't like the base plastic wheel covers, but we don't want to pay for alloys either.

    * Front airbags are not of the "Dual Stage" type, something we find unacceptable from this GM/Toyota hybrid.

    * Due to the akward steering wheel angle position, this forces the driver to position its seat too close to the steering wheel and instrument panel. This car really needs a std telescopic wheel adjustment.

    * Lack of low end torque in the 130HP/Automatic base Vibe. For strict city driving is OK, but at 2800 pounds, the little 1.8L VVT-i feels overtaxed all the time. My wife's current '97 Mercury Tracer feels much stronger off the line, considering the car's engine (2.0L) only churns out 115HP, but the car is 500 pounds lighter and it is automatic. Either GM/Toyota need to increase the torque and HP to about 150HP or make the Camry's 2.2L 4 banger standard equipment. We do not need a racer, but a car that feels safe and confident when marging in the expressway, changing lanes, passing and in long road trips.

    * Short basic bumper-to-bumper warranty.

    * And finally we are not yet 100% convinced about paying MSRP sticker price for a "hot" Pontiac. This car sooner or later will join the "Rebate" and "Special" financing trends of other GM corporate models. I have no problem paying 3% over invoice, but MSRP for a product that promises not very high resales values makes it a questionnable choice at this time.

    We have seen the Toyota Matrix and do care about its exterior looks at all. Add to that the arrogance of Toyota dealers in our area (Who think they are doing you a favor by selling you a Toyota) were enough to quickly dismiss it from our shopping list.

    Believe it or not, we are crosshopping the Vibe with the 2002 Mini Cooper base equipped with the CVT automatic transmission. Fabulous car (Short on rear seat and cargo space) and looks like nothing else on the road. It is built like a tank, impeccable fit and finish and sports car handling (After all it has BMW 3 series suspension pieces in it).

    We are leaning more towards the MINI as we see it more as a long time investment as BMW intends to keep production numbers low for this car. The MINI is expensive for a car this small. You are not paying for size, you are paying for top notch engineering, build quality, halo persona, looks and outstanding resale values, not to mention exclusivity and potential for collector car status, which the Vibe due to its mainstream market mission is simply not intended to be.

    At this time I prefer the MINI COOPER over the VIBE for the following reason: (Although either car involves certain compromises and we need to decide which of those are we willing to take whether we go for the MINI or the VIBE)

    * Electronic Brake force distribution (EBD), STD

    * Electronic all speeds traction control, STD

    * Electronic Corner Braking Control (CBC), STD

    * 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, STD
    * 6 Airbags (2 front, 2 side, 4 side curtain type airbags) all with dual stage and special weight sensors, STD

    * Alpine RDS stereo with single CD player and six speakers....sounds incredible!, std

    * Leatherette upholstery, std (Cloth is also offered as a $0 option)

    * 15" Alloy wheels, std.

    * Power windows, locks and mirrors, std.

    * CVT automatic transmission (May be the VIBE would greatly benefit with CVT technology due to the low end torque motor) is offered as a $1200
    option.

    * 4 year/50,000 mile limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles fully paid scheduled maintenance...a big plus!

    Configured this way, our MINI would be $18,500. The only 2 options are the CVT transmission ($1200) and the metallic paint ($400), that's it. Everything else is standard.

    We alredy have a large GM sedan that we bought last year and has been flawless so far. We are very happy with our GM product. So in a way we can compromise and get the MINI since we already have a big sedan for our primary car. We don;t yet have children, but are thinking about starting a family soon. Again, the big sedan was bought with this purpose in mind.

    The VIBE is nice as it is more practical, but it falls short in key safety components. With the Vibe you are paying for extra set of doors, more rear seat room and more cargo room and the promise of Toyota quality, that's it.

    The MINI has it all over the VIBE in build quality, safety elements, cool factor, resale and exclusivity, not to mention better warranty.

    We are still deciding which way to go, but for now the MINI is more appealing to us than the VIBE. However, that might change.

    Anyone wanna share more VIBE base model ownership experiences???
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    petlpetl Member Posts: 610
    It appears, according to your observations, that the Vibe has more negatives than positives. You've done your homework very well. Although I don't agree with all of your comments (particularly on build quality) it might be better for you to buy the Mini rather than the Vibe. No one is going to convince you into buying anything. Therefore I think you should buy the vehicle that you will be most happy with (no regrets). Incidentally, the most important safety feature of/in any vehicle is the driver. Good luck with your decision.
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    dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Although we could have got a Vibe for $500 (maybe more) under MSRP, we opted for an Alero mainly because the deals were better and we decided we could do with out the extra space for a while longer. Vibe supply is very short in Canada also, so the selection of colors and options is also very limited.

    The Mini is pretty cool but check out the insurance on one before you decide. Can you get a Mini? They are sold out everywhere around here.
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    hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    And I bought a MINI Cooper. Around here (near Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario) the MINI is actually easier to get than the Vibe, believe it or not. My salesperson told me to tell my friends to come on down, as he has some sitting on his lot waiting for buyers (didn't give me any referral coupons though...)!

    First I must say it is a bit funny to cross shop these two as the Vibe is a compact tall wagon while the MINI Cooper is a subcompact hatchback. They are both fun, trendy new hatches which is why I was looking at them. If you intend to drive four people and a fair amount of luggage around on a regular basis then the MINI is likely too small since, while it is a spacious car for two people and their cargo, it is tight for 4 going much distance (3 adults are doable with the 50/50 split folding rear seat but that's about it for farther than out to lunch). I already have a midsized Saturn LW200 wagon for a family car so I found the Vibe to be a bit too much overlap for me; why get another wagon when I already have one? I really wanted something smaller and sportier and the MINI fit the bill. Details:

    For handling, steering and braking, the MINI is hands-down a better car by far. I don't think you'll find a better handling FWD car actually. It is a BMW, not a Toyota. The wheelbase and track cover almost all of the car, it sits lower (feels more like a sportscar while the Vibe feels a bit like a minivan), it has a BMW Z-axle fully-independent rear suspension compared to a beam-axle semi-independent job on the Vibe, it has big (11" front, 10" rear) 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability and traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, corner braking control, etc.

    The base engine of the MINI is smaller, 1.6 vs. 1.8 but it feels and is faster because of the tall low gearing which reaches 100km/h in 2nd gear (I test drove 5-speeds of both) and the lower weight. With the Vibe you reach what you think is the right speed but you are actually going much slower but with the MINI you reach the desired speed and are actually going 20-30 over (watch that centre-mounted speedo!).

    For gas mileage, the Vibe is better and takes regular compared to premium in the MINI so if you drive a lot, the MINI will be more expensive to operate.

    The interiors are both fairly well made (not top notch either of them) and functional but I found the driver's position to be much better in the MINI. The steering wheel isn't as close, though the small footwell took some getting used to. Rear visibility was better in the MINI too.

    The MINI seems much more expensive but by the time you add side airbags, ABS, alloy wheels, comparable audio, etc. to the Vibe it is close to the same price and you get less for your money IMO, except that the Vibe is a bigger vehicle. It all comes down to that really. If you want a small wagon, the Vibe will likely suit you better. If you want a small, sporty hatchback the MINI would be a better bet.

    I love the leatherette. It is nice and soft and most think it is leather. It also means you can get heated seats without splurging for leather. I got a car off the lot that had heated seats as part of a package deal (wouldn't have bought them otherwise) and my wife loves them as a back massage. Sounds silly but its true.

    Oh, and the insurance on the base MINI is also no problem. My MINI replaced a '95 Geo Metro and the insurance is just $15/month more with that switch.

    I hope you enjoy and have good luck with whatever you get!
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    Yes in fact I already checked for the insurance premium rates for both, the Vibe and the MINI Cooper. With the Vibe (Using our current policy coverage) we will be paying exactly $0.83 cents more per month and the for the MINI, our monthly insurance cost will only increase $6.00 per month over my wife's current car. Extremely affordable insurance costs for both. I was expecting a hefty insurance premium price hike on the Cooper, but was pleasantly surprised.

    Before we get excited about any new car, we always make sure to check back with our insurance agent, just in case. It saves you a big dissapointment at the end.
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    I think we are re-tracing your buying decision steps in regards to the Vibe vs MINI dilemma.

    I have a question for you, but it is regarding your MINI. I'll post it in the MINI forum as I don't want to stray off topic here.
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    dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    drivinisfun : We were stunned how much the insurance was on small SUVs, about C$30 more a month than a medium size car. Part of the reason we ditched the VUE/ CR-V idea for now.

    hpulley4 : Good to hear from you again. Glad to hear you are enjoying the Mini. I have seen a couple of the road and they are very cute. I like them much better than the VW Beetles. Not surprised the Mini handles better, the base Vibe is no race car. That said, the Mini also costs a few grand more.
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    vonnyvoncevonnyvonce Member Posts: 129
    Does anyone know if a plug in type trailer wiring adapter similar to "hoppy" is available yet. Did the Drawtite hitch, very easy and nice fit but would like easy wiring also.

    Also on my message center page I used to get just my bookmarks, now I get a huge list of message boards. Anyone know why this happened and how to fix this?
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    obiwankenobi1obiwankenobi1 Member Posts: 290
    What is the deal with the Vibe not having IRS? I was seriously considering getting one, but without independant rear suspension, forget it. I drive a 2002 Maxima right now and was looking to lower my payments. I LOVE my Maxima....except for the rear suspension. It is not bad, but it is really archaic.

    Any ideas on why they don't have IRS? (The Vibe OR Matrix)

    Obi
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    golfboygolfboy Member Posts: 35
    For Vibe owners...

    How useful do you find the roof rack? How is it for wind noise compared with the Matrix?
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    turksteritisturksteritis Member Posts: 95
    I just bought a Vibe & my other vehicle is a 01 mazda tribute. The Vibe is way quieter on the highway then the tribute. I don,t notice any wind noise from the roof rack at all.Pretty quiet & smooth for a small car.
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    hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    Vibe and Matrix are based upon the Corolla which had a torsion beam.
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    shadowsurfershadowsurfer Member Posts: 22
    vonnyvonce,

    Just curious, do you have the VIBE GT ?
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    vonnyvoncevonnyvonce Member Posts: 129
    No SS, it's a base with automatic. My standard transmission days are over. I find there's just too much traffic nowadays. Auto let's me take it easy.
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    obiwankenobi1obiwankenobi1 Member Posts: 290
    hpulley4 - Thanks for the answer, however, the Corolla DOES have an independant rear suspension. So, how can the Vibe and Matrix not?

    Obi
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    Has anyone been able to get a new Vibe for at least 3% to 4% over invoice, or at invoice list pricing?

    Are Pontiac dealers still letting these cars go for MSRP only?
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    hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    Corolla, Vibe and Matrix all have the same torsion beam rear suspension. They are all the same. Perhaps some consider this an independent suspension. Call them what you will.
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    rbarritrbarrit Member Posts: 14
    I believe that the Corrolla under went a redesign this year. If it previously had independent rear, it probably has lost it. My old '87 Nova-Corolla has 4 wheel independent. I'm a little disappointed that the Vibe-Matrix does not. However, my Vibe is way better handling than the old Nova ever was. So unless you're on the track, probably doesn't matter that much (though I'd prefer independent myself in any case just because it is better).
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    edchenedchen Member Posts: 31
    Here's a few links.

    http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_school/suspension/tech_suspension21.htm


    You can do a search on yahoo for torsion beam suspension. Basically it's cheap, takes little space and acts as a rear anti-rollbar controlling camber very well. Cars such as the Infiniti G20, VW GTI and Nissan Maxima have used it and are all considered good handling cars.

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    dlockhartdlockhart Member Posts: 4
    I am going to sit down with the sales manager to buy a vibe ( auto,moon and tunes,power pac. etc.) Those of you that have an auto, What kind of milege are you getting and does it have enough power to go over the hills comfortably? Any options that I should get or forget? Thanks for your help. Doug
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    vonnyvoncevonnyvonce Member Posts: 129
    I have one and it's very nice. Auto is smooth. It is fine on the hills in my area, in fact I like that is does not hunt for the right gear when doing hills with the cruise control on. Mileage for me has been over 30 with 1200 miles. If you're tired of shifting IMHO this automatic is not a compromise.
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    If getting a Vibe (Or any new car for that matter), make safety a number one priority when picking out your car. The Vibe in standard form only offers dual front airbags, nothing else. It is worth the expense to order one with ABS (You also get the 4 wheel disc brakes as oppossed as the rudimentary Disc/Drum combo) and the 2 extra front seat mounted side airbags.

    According to current pricing lists, the ABS brakes are $500.00 and the side airbags are $300.00. Well worth it in my opinion.

    The Vibe is a very nice sportwagon. But my beef with GM/Toyota on this vehicle is that they chose to skimp on available standard and optional safety equipment. A new VW Golf/Jetta comes standard with no less than 6 airbags (2 front, 2 side and 2 side roof mounted curtain bags that extended all the way to the back seat), 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, Traction control, etc for the price of the Vibe. Yes the Vibe is bigger, more versatile vehicle than either VW, but you get my drift.

    Had the Vibe at least offered side curtain airbags, std ABS, traction control we would have more seriously considered one.

    I am not dissing the Vibe/Matrix. They are very nice vehicles, but my critism of their lack of key safety equipment for the price is well founded.
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    obiwankenobi1obiwankenobi1 Member Posts: 290
    Thanks man!
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    vinneyvinney Member Posts: 43
    Vonnyvonce and anyone out there with a base vibe auto trans. Do you feel a metallic clunk sometimes after shifting from drive to reverse and vise versa? I test drove a few vibes and both had this symptom. Maybe this is normal? Does the vibe have posi traction or limited slip transaxle? To test it out simply take off in drive accelarating normally then stop and do the same in reverse while listening for a clunk. Thanks your input will be appreciated!
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    poopaloopoopaloo Member Posts: 1
    Noticed that someone was selling a sunroof wind deflector for the Vibe on Ebay. Does anyone know if this is the same part as a deflector for a Corolla (i.e. has someone just figured this out and taking advantage before we catch on)?
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    markregelmarkregel Member Posts: 32
    The P.T. Cruiser competes well with Honda Civic and others with IRS despite being high profile and not having IRS. Torsion bar supension is also simpler, with less bushings to wear out and allignment problems. Some reviews consider the FWD Vibe to handle as good or better than the AWD Vibe (AWD Vibes have IRS).
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    markregelmarkregel Member Posts: 32
    There is no evidence that ABS or traction control is safer according to injury and accident statistics. Not sure about six air bags? Anyway, if your so obsessed with safety get an Excursion! Fact is a larger vehicle is always safer than a smaller one, 5 star crash rating or not! Don't believe me check insurance company statistics. Even the Ford Explorer on Firestone tires (Heaven Forbid!) has a better safety record than Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Of course they didn't tell you that on the news! That said, defensive driving is the best way to achieve safty.
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    andil1andil1 Member Posts: 97
    Vinney, I monitor the Honda CR-V board and this reverse/forward clunk has been discussed. See posting 7952 on that board. Sounds like it's normal.
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    drivinisfundrivinisfun Member Posts: 372
    Absolutely. However, keep in mind that every little helps in terms of safety equipment. Would I buy a car with no ABS?, no way. Many times before I have seen the benefit of ABS brakes when a careless clown suddently cuts in front of you, etc.

    If you believe that ABS, side airbags, etc are a waste of time or money so be it. But if I am buying a small car under 3,000 pounds, I expect that vehicle to beef up its safety equipment and make no excuses or compromises in the name of "Cost".

    I drive a 3,500 pound large American sedan every single day. Not a single problem. However, we also want small "City" car to complement our current family sedan. Sure my 3,500 pounder sedan will be much safer than any other vehicle that weighs 1000 less, that's physics, no and ifs or buts about it.

    Driver skill also is an important component in road safety. But keep in mind that you could be a Juan Montoya behind the wheel and that will not prevent you from another stupid clown running into you.

    Also, the way a small car is built and constructed also plays a great part in how it will perform on a crash. You'll be surprised to find out that some Expeditions, Suburbans and Tahoes do not exhibit great crash protection performance. Remember that most trucks are exempt from federal mandated safety standards that currently apply to cars. So essentially you might be safer in any car than a SUV.

    Having said all this, I still find the Vibe's standard equipment list lacking in comparison to other similary priced compact/subcompact offerings in the market. If I can get a freaking VW Golf with 4 wheel disc/ABS brakes and 6 airbags standard, why doesn't the Vibe/Matrix, made by the world leader in transporation products (Toyota/GM) skimps in std safety equipment???

    Just a pair of front airbags, lap/shoulder belts and 4 headrests simply don't cut it into a vehicle that costs nearly $20K. ABS and Side airbags are optional and add $800.00 to the bottom line. Traction Control, side curtain airbags, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Cornering Brake Control and Vehicle stability control are not even offered....what's up with that??

    The Vibe is a very nice vehicle and have been following it since it was unveiled at the 2001 NAIAS show in Detroit last January, but I am dissapointed that GM/Toyota only concerned themselves about adding the very minimum amount of safety equipment, instead of matching or besting the best thir competition has to offer!

    Anyway, nothing that any of you needs to get so defensive about. The truth hurts I guess.
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    petlpetl Member Posts: 610
    Some of the additional safety features (side air bags and ABS) may or may not prevent serious injury or safe your life in an accident. Some of these features may help drivers avoid an accident while others may assist in preventing injury. As you stated there are many factors that will dictate the outcome of an accident. The main safety features (other than the driver) are properly adjusted seatbelts and a well-designed vehicle that includes crumple zones, steel beams, etc. The other stated features are bonuses. I'm not saying they aren't helpful, but they are not the primary safety features required in a vehicle. Air bags are supplementary systems that should be used in conjunction with seatbelts and ABS can actually increase your stopping distance on some surfaces. These are documented facts. Serious injuries have been caused because people are unaware their limitations.

    It appears that the more safety features offered, the more people drive like they are invincible (it gives many drivers a false sense of security). "Good driving practices and common sense disappear."

    If you feel these additional features are absolutely necessary, do the obvious and buy another vehicle. I don't think GM/Toyota will miss the business. You have already concluded that the MINI and Golf are better. Why don't you buy either one and move on. Heck, why not buy an armoured tank.

    Incidentally, I'm not being defensive, just expressing my opinion (as you did). The truth is in the eye of the beholder (truth is one thing, perception is another). Good luck with your decision.
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    shadowsurfershadowsurfer Member Posts: 22
    The Pontiac Vibe four-door 4x4 and 4x2 and the Toyota Matrix four-door 4x4 and 4x2 received four stars for rollover resistance rating.
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    dlockhartdlockhart Member Posts: 4
    I checked on ins. rates on a 03 vibe and found that it was slightly less than my 95 Nissan Pathfinder. My agent told me that it was because of safety equipment on the Vibe and also the fact of the liability of me hitting someone with my 4200 lb. truck. Suv penalty!
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    magic32magic32 Member Posts: 1
    Hey all, just wanted to tell all that I just got my new Abyss, Vibe GT with the Moon and Tunes package. I love this vehicle, it is a blast to drive.
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    shadowsurfershadowsurfer Member Posts: 22
    magic32,

    Conratulations on your brand new spanking Vibe GT !

    Did you get the Monotone option ? Any tints ?
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    dlockhartdlockhart Member Posts: 4
    I bought my Vibe last night from a dealer that was very easy to work with. It cost me about 3% over their invoise and I did well on my trade in. They gave me a 1000$ more than my local dealer would. Now I have to figure out how to work the radio! I guess that I have to read the inst. I love the Salsa color! After driving a Pathfinder for 8 yrs I need to get use to driving a car. I find myself speeding on the freeway.
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    cletusredneckcletusredneck Member Posts: 10
    I remember reading an article about car safety and ABS. In the article it turned out that ABS did not statistically lower the chances of being involved in a accident. The reasons were that the drivers did not know how to use ABS properly and plain old human nature. You give people power and they will abuse it.
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    orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    I was waiting and waiting for the new Vibe. I really like the look and utility and room.
    However I am still disappointed enough to pass on this. Pontiac and Toyota, if you are reading this and you want to sell me this car, these are my gripes:
    • The engine is too small... put in a 2.2 liter.
    • The mirrors don't fold... On my next car, I insist on foldaway mirrors so I can get around my car in the garage. Stop being so cheap with your cars.
    • Lose the tacky chrome on the dash and make the gauges regular mechanical type, not laser beam red electonic or whatever they are.
    •How come the doors automatically unlock when you pull the handle in the Matrix, but not the Vibe? I really like the auto unlock feature that GM cars don't have. I'm used to it, driving Chryslers and Volvos. Now Toyota has it.
    • Put a real cargo cover in there, not some stupid looking piece of window shade vinyl sagging between the wheel wells.
    • The steering wheel is TOO FAR AWAY from the driver and cannot be adjusted closer.
    • The arm rests in the doors are useless, your arm falls right off.

    I don't know why I bother complaining here... but maybe if someone from Toyota or pontiac reads this, they can get a clue.
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    frodo7frodo7 Member Posts: 1
    I paid 3% over invoice and got a decent trade-in value for my car. My Vibe is the base model (manual transmission) with Moon and Toons, Power and Aluminum Wheels. So far I like the car. It has better acceleration than I expected for a 130 hp engine. It's very roomy and very practical. The factory stereo is better than expected.
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    revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    Thanks for sharing the details. We look forward to your participation at Town Hall... and hearing more about your ownership experiences. Happy motoring!

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
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